Start Planning Your First Mini-Retirement

How would a one-month mini-retirement benefit your mental health? I know I’m not alone in feeling burnt out these days. And while the idea of four weeks away from work—to rest, to recalibrate, to pursue a passion—might feel out of reach, Jillian Johnsrud knows firsthand how to make it happen.Jillian’s book, “Retire Often,” is the culmination of everything she’s learned from her own dozen short sabbaticals and from coaching hundreds of fellow mini-retirees. If you’ve been feeling dragged down by work stress, now is definitely the time to get inspired by Jillian’s philosophy and how it’s changed her life, transforming her into a middle-aged mom of five with the energy to seize every day with creativity and positivity. Start planning your first mini-retirement equipped with Jillian’s advice, includingPractical considerations that make it possible;Why mini-retirements affect women differently than men;How to convince your boss to sign off;Why the American workplace shuns the idea of extended time off.Related Links:Buy the “Retire Often” book - https://retireoften.com/bookThe “Retire Often” Podcast - https://retireoften.com/podcast/Work with Jillian - https://retireoften.com/group-coaching/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Paid Leave Benefits” - https://www.bls.gov/charts/employee-benefits/paid-leave-sick-vacation-days-by-service-requirement.htmPew Research Group, “The ‘Leisure Gap’ Between Mothers and Fathers” - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/17/the-leisure-gap-between-mothers-and-fathers/Episode 501, “Four Best Practices to Navigate Layoff Anxiety & Uncertainty” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode501Episode 521, “In a Tight Job Market, Job-Hugging is on the Rise” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode521Episode 516, “The Power Pause: Rebranding the Stay-at-Home Mom” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode516Episode 468, “Disrupting Elder Care: We Need To Talk More About Working Daughters” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode468Episode 463, “A Different Approach to My Second Maternity Leave” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode463Episode 402, “How to Financially Prepare for Layoffs” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode402TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do we advocate for equity amidst federal policy changes that actively widen gender and racial gaps?Since April, a record-low unemployment rate for Black Americans has skyrocketed, surging from below 5% to 7.5%. At the same time, the unemployment rate for white Americans dropped slightly to below 4%. The economic position for Black women in particular was just beginning to get better, and today, slashed public sector jobs and a slew of other factors are causing a rapid backslide.When people of color, and especially Black women, lose ground, it’s a flashing neon warning sign of systemic cracks that, ultimately, impact us all. In this episode, I’m breaking down the of data that highlights just how heavily our current economic problems are impacting American workers, families, and communities.The numbers don’t lie. Here’s what they show:The federal and public sector job cuts are disproportionately impacting Black women;Attacks on DEI programs are stifling improvements that had barely begun;Good leadership today looks like advocating for equity and opportunity for all.Related Links:Joint Center for Economic and Policy Research, “The Best Black Economy in Generations – And Why It Isn’t Enough” - https://jointcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Best-Black-Economy-in-Generations-Final.pdfEconomic Policy Institute, “What’s behind rising unemployment for Black workers?” - https://www.epi.org/blog/whats-behind-rising-unemployment-for-black-workers/The New York Times, “The Racial Wage Gap is Shrinking” - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/briefing/juneteenth-racial-wage-gap.htmlThe New York Times, “In Trump’s Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Are Among the Hardest Hit” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/us/politics/trump-federal-work-force-black-women.htmlMSNBC, “300,000 Black women have left the labor force in 3 months. It’s not a coincidence.” - https://www.msnbc.com/know-your-value/business-culture/300000-black-women-left-labor-force-3-months-s-not-coincidence-rcna219355The New York Times, “Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different.” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/business/economy/black-unemployment-federal-layoffs-diversity-initiatives.htmlThe New York Times, “Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/us/politics/black-leaders-trump.htmlThe White House, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” - https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/The New York Times, “How Corporate America Is Retreating From D.E.I.” - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/13/business/corporate-america-dei-policy-shifts.htmlBrookings, “Black wealth is increasing, but so is the racial wealth gap - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/black-wealth-is-increasing-but-so-is-the-racial-wealth-gap/Episode 526, The Double Tax: What It Really Costs Women of Color to Succeed - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode526TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We tell women to negotiate harder, lean in, and ask for what they’re worth. But what if the system was designed to make that impossible? Economist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman calls it the double tax—the compounded price of racism and sexism that drains women of color’s time, money, and energy just to show up and succeed.In this episode, we unpack how that hidden tax shows up at work—from policing what it means to be “presentable” to the unconscious stereotypes women of color navigate before they even get the job —and what it means for the ways women negotiate, lead, and thrive. Anna breaks down the numbers and the stories behind them, revealing why individual fixes aren’t enough and what real equity could look like when we stop asking women to bear the cost alone. Tune in now to learn: Listen in to learn:Just how widespread the “double tax” really is;The deeply ingrained politics of presentability every woman navigates;How biases and stigmas follow women of color throughout their careers;Why building connection is the foundational step we needRelated Links:The Double Tax by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman - https://annagifty.com/Connect with Anna on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annagifty/Follow Anna on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/itsafronomics/Follow Anna on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/itsafronomics.bsky.social/Episode 322, How to be a Leader People Actually Like - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode322Episode 456, How Connection Can Cure What Ails Us - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode456Episode 497, Where Have All the Good Friends Gone? - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode497HIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How are you dealing with our nation’s constant onslaught of frightening news? Witnessing democracy itself under attack has me feeling despair more often than I’d like, and I know I’m not alone. To be honest, talking about job search strategies and leadership best practices feels a bit futile while our nation flirts with fascism.  So, on this episode, I’m taking a look at how we can continue to function when we’re faced with crisis after crisis, day after day.Let’s talk about how we can help—ourselves and others who may be feeling despair, too:How the overwhelm campaign is a deliberate strategy designed to shock us into submission;Why we need to start by checking in with our basic needs;The deep damage of doomscrolling;How the combination of finding meaning and taking action can create change.Related Links:American Psychological Association, Stress in America 2024 - https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024Frontline interview with Steve Bannon - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/steve-bannon-3/Vox, “Flood the zone with sh*t”: How misinformation overwhelmed our democracy - https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/16/20991816/impeachment-trial-trump-bannon-misinformationAmerican Friends Service Committee, “How allies can defend against ICE raids” - https://afsc.org/news/how-allies-can-defend-against-ice-raidsNational Immigrant Justice Center, “Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE” - https://immigrantjustice.org/for-immigrants/know-your-rights/ice-encounter/Episode 293, What 2020 Taught Me (About F-Off Funds) - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode293TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you push back against the “overqualified” label in interviews when you’re an experienced leader? The job search is daunting today, to say the least, and when you’re going in with a decade or more of experience, it can be a real confidence-killer, too. Loren Greiff is the founder of PortfolioRocket. She directs her wealth of experience as a recruiter and advertiser to ending “career victimization by elevating, accelerating, and celebrating one executive over 40 at a time.” We talk about how those with significant career experience can reframe and reclaim the job search experience. Shift your job search mindset to rise in the recruitment ranks:How to transition from a passive to an active application approach;Honing in on and clearly explaining your unique unfair advantage;What interviewers actually mean when they say you’re “overqualified”;What to stop doing before and during your interviews to really set yourself apart.Related Links:Episode 523, What Our 2025 Community Survey Reveals About Women, Work, and Burnout - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode523Work with Loren - https://www.portfoliorocket.com/Connect with Loren - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/Listen to the “Career Blast in a Half” podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-blast-in-a-half/id1670977528Download the “Unlock the Hidden Job Market” ebook - https://programs.portfoliorocket.com/unlock-websiteHIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s your biggest work challenge right now? If burnout, job security, or work/life balance are in your top three, you’re definitely not alone. The results of my recent Bossed Up Community Survey are in, and wow; I got so many impactful,thoughtful—and concerning—responses from all of you!Your experiences match up with the wider trends impacting women in the workplace that we’ve been hearing more and more about lately. This episode breaks down some of the biggest things you’re going through with work and how this data will play into the future of the Bossed Up podcast.Find out what the numbers have to say about the future of your career:By far the most common workplace challenge listeners are facing;The ongoing connection between job search statistics and career satisfaction;How working professionals are rethinking burnout, ambition, and fulfillment.Related Links:Episode 521, In a Tight Job Market, Job-Hugging is on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode521Episode 520, Using AI in Your Job Search: What You Need to Know - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode520Episode 516, The Power Pause: Rebranding the Stay-at-Home Mom - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode516Episode 503, Pivot from the Public to the Private Sector - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode503Episode 498, The Case for the “Good-Enough” Job - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode498Episode 451, The Impact of Return-to-Office Mandates on Working Moms - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode451Episode 469, Surprising Trends Impacting Women at Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode469Bossed Up: A Grown Woman's Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together by Emilie Aries - https://www.bossedup.org/bookLinkedIn Learning, Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forwardBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do you do when your career stops captivating you? These days, more and more of us are dragging ourselves through work rather than feeling energized by it. This leads to burnout, disengagement, and, often, an endless job search.My guest today literally wrote the book on a science-backed way to identify the work that naturally suits you and figure out how to shift your career—in a minor or a major way—so that it offers more satisfaction. Betsy Willis is the author of “Your Hidden Genius” and the founder of YouScience, an online aptitude assessment platform designed to help you elevate your innate gifts.Start advocating for a role that fulfills you by understanding:The difference and overlap between aptitudes, interests, and personality;The many factors that cause us to follow unsuitable career paths;Why it’s never too late to explore new career possibilities.Related Links:“Your Hidden Genius”, by Betsy Willis and Alex Ellison - https://www.yourhiddengenius.com/Learn more about YouScience - https://www.youscience.com/Connect with Betsy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsywills/Learn More About Betsy’s ArtStormer Blog - https://artstormer.com/Episode 456, How Connection Can Cure What Ails Us - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode456Episode 510, Directional Living for Aligned Fulfillment - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode510Episode 511, The Engagement Crisis Impacting Young Workers - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode511Episode 515, How to Re-Inspire Yourself Out of a Career Slump - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode515Episode 516, The Power Pause: Rebranding the Stay-at-Home Mom - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode516Episode 520, Using AI in Your Job Search: What You Need to Know - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode520LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelupBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you staying at your job because you love it or because you don’t believe there’s anything better out there right now? If you’re in the latter camp, you’re not alone. An unprecedented number of workers recently reported they’ll be staying at their jobs for the next six months, not due to overwhelming fulfillment but to the treacherous nature of the job market.In today’s episode, I break down the rising trend known as “job hugging” and what uninspired workers and their managers can do to deal with this indifference. Spoiler alert: it’s not necessarily a negative!Feeling frustrated about the job market? Tune in for a fresh take on  job-hugging, including:The lowdown on the stats that started this trend;Where else you can find fulfillment if your job doesn’t provide it;How to maximize results when you’re managing a team of job huggers.Related Links:Fortune, Great Resignation shows no signs of slowing down: 40% of U.S. workers are considering quitting their jobs—here’s where they’re going - https://fortune.com/2022/07/21/great-resignation-40-percent-want-to-quit-where-are-they-going/PR Newswire, Eagle Hill Consulting Employee Retention Index Signals Trend for Employees Staying In Their Jobs Will Continue Over Next Six Months - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eagle-hill-consulting-employee-retention-index-signals-trend-for-employees-staying-in-their-jobs-will-continue-over-next-six-months-302513564.htmlGlassdoor, Worklife Trends 2025 - https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/worklife-trends-2025/The Wall Street Journal, American Companies Had Lowest Job Growth in Eight Months - https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/american-companies-hit-the-brakes-on-hiring-a76cff6fEpisode 31, How to Give Effective Feedback - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode31Episode 368, The Pros and Cons of Quiet Quitting and What it Means for Your Career - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode368Episode 376 - How to Make Performance Reviews More Effective as a Manager - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode376Episode 403 - How First-Time Managers Can Embrace Coaching - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode403Episode 474, How to Cultivate a Culture of Growth Within Your Organization - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode474Episode 498, The Case for the “Good Enough” Job - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode498Episode 516, The Power Pause: Rebranding the Stay-at-Home Mom - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode516HIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can you leverage AI to help you choose, prepare for, and land your next great job? A lot of you are planning or in the thick of the job search right now, and with the ever-increasing AI involvement in company hiring practices, the landscape looks a lot different than even a few years ago. This conversation with Marlo Lyons, a career coach, author, and HR pro with 20 years of experience, is here to help you navigate these choppy, rapidly changing waters. Marlo and I discuss what’s changed (AI interviewers) and what hasn’t (building real connections is still vital). She shares her expert advice on how AI programs can help you not only prepare for applications and interviews, but also uncover a new career that really aligns with your values. The robots can’t do everything for us, but they definitely belong in your toolbox. Get Marlo’s expert tips on how to (and not to) incorporate AI into your job search:How to find your AI-resistant capabilities;Why networking is still a key piece in an AI-driven work world;How to use an LLM like ChatGPT to help you prepare and apply;The kind of resumes AI scanners are looking for;Nailing that first interview with an AI agent.Related Links:Connect with Marlo - https://www.marlolyonscoaching.com/Marlo’s books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marlo-Lyons/author/B09BJ8SQ2XThe Work Unscripted Podcast - https://www.marlolyonscoaching.com/podcastHBR, How to Get Hired When AI Does the Screening - https://hbr.org/2025/02/how-to-get-hired-when-ai-does-the-screeningThe New York Times, Trump vs. the U.S. Economy by Ezra Klein - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-natasha-sarin.htmlEpisode 519, How to Ace the Interview with an AI Agent - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode519HIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you let your humanity shine in the job interview when your interviewer isn’t human? Employers have gone beyond tasking AI to scan for buzzwords in resumes and cover letters—agentic AI now conducts screening interviews, too!If video chatting with a black screen makes you nervous—or prompts outright panic—you aren’t alone. But if you implement the interview prep process I outline in this short and sweet episode, you’ll be ready to take on that artificial interrogator with all the personality, warmth, and expertise you bring to your in-person conversations, too.Here’s what you need to know to feel confident in your AI interview:Why you should mimic the incoming interview style when you rehearse;How to more naturally exude the human traits the bots are looking for;Top AI tools to help you tackle the job-seeking process.Related Links:HIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/The New York Times, “Welcome to Your Job Interview. Your Interviewer Is A.I.” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/technology/ai-job-interviews.htmlHarvard Business Review, “Are You Prepared to Be Interviewed by an AI?” - https://hbr.org/2023/02/are-you-prepared-to-be-interviewed-by-an-aiWorkday, “Workday Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Paradox, the AI Company Redefining the Frontline Candidate Experience” - https://investor.workday.com/2025-08-21-Workday-Signs-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Paradox,-the-AI-Company-Redefining-the-Frontline-Candidate-ExperienceJosh Bersin, “LinkedIn Enters AI Agent Race With LinkedIn Hiring Assistant” - https://joshbersin.com/2024/10/linkedin-enters-ai-agent-race-with-linkedin-hiring-assistant/CBS News, “Your next job interview might be with AI. Here's how to ace it.” - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-job-interview-tips-to-prepare-artificial-intelligence/Episode 361, Top Tips to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode361Google’s Interview Warmup - https://grow.google/certificates/interview-warmup/Final Round AI Mock Interview - https://www.finalroundai.com/ai-mock-interviewBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.